by Kat Zaccard
We headed off to class under the watchful eye of several patrols. I didn’t see anyone I recognized, though I was dying to ask someone what had happened last night. Everyone had trouble focusing during morning classes and we were all happy to reconvene for our afternoon training. Olaf wasn’t there, however, and Coach Murry informed us we wouldn’t be running patrols for the rest of the term. Everyone groaned with disappointment.
“You need time to focus on your studies for midterms.” She handed us the excuse not even trying to convince us she meant it. “In the meantime, you can work on training drills in the arena.” We all grumbled at the restricted access. A pack of werewolves needed to run through the woods.
I tried to make it fun by having the girls practice shifting while in motion. They’d been impressed to watch me shift as I stepped through the doorway last night, but the act had been involuntary. Trying to explain how to do it was much trickier. Still, we had fun trying, even if there was little success. Jillian scoffed at us as she passed by us, but one warning growl from Hayley quickly sent Jillian on her way. Hayley pretended to march after her and managed to shift into her wolf mid-step. We all cheered and applauded, which turned to laughter as Jillian turned to see, with surprise, Hayley right on her heels. She sneered at us but didn’t engage. Hayley trotted back to us and turned back into a woman. She stumbled and fell but rolled out of it elegantly, rising with fists pumping the air.
“I did it!” she exclaimed, delighted.
We all pounced on her in celebration like a proper pile of puppies.
That evening, I snuck off to my room to call Diego. I’d never tried to call him before. Cell phones didn’t work well out here, and even if they had, most werewolves didn’t bother carrying valuables on them when they might shift and lose them at any moment. Nevertheless, most businesses had land lines and I looked up the number for Luciana’s Café.
Luciana answered on the first ring, “Luciana’s Café.”
“Hi, Mrs. Galvan, it’s Alice.”
“Hello, Your Highness! It’s nice of you to call. Please, call me Luciana.”
“Okay, then please call me Alice.” I smiled into the receiver, hoping it was conveyed through my voice.
“Hmm, I’m not sure I’m allowed to do that.” Luciana chuckled, and I imagined a smile of her own brightening the conversation.
“You are if I say so,” I replied matter-of-factly.
“Well, I suppose so,” she relented. “What can I do for you, Alice?”
“Is Diego there? I wanted to talk to him.”
“I‘m afraid Diego is still out on patrol tonight.”
“But he came home all right last night?” I asked nervously.
I was definitely sure I heard a smile in her voice next. “Yes, he’s perfectly safe, my dear. I’ll have him call you when he gets home.”
“Even if it’s late,” I instructed.
“Of course.”
We hung up and I sat back in my chair. Luciana had assured me he’d made it home last night, so I knew he wasn’t in immediate danger. We would have heard by now if something more drastic was going on. I tried to reassure myself but didn’t quite buy my own placations. I sat down to do homework but kept jumping up, antsy and restless. The hours passed, and no call came. Finally, I gave up and went to bed.
The next morning I saw a light blinking on my cell phone. I had a voicemail from Diego: “Hey, Princess, I’m still alive. We didn’t find anything in the woods, but the fresh kill did look suspicious. Last year we think the upyr were leaving dead carcasses to throw us off their trail. They don’t smell right, and they’re hard to track. We’ll be on high alert now. Sorry, but I don’t think the headmaster will allow the junior patrols to continue. But do me a favor, don’t hide from Sir Henry. He’s terrified that you were the one to discover the deer. Anyway, talk to you later.”
I listened to the message again trying to glean any further information. Okay, maybe I was trying to guess his emotions. “Hey, Princess” had sounded weary but still endearing. He teased me with my title, I knew. I sighed and took my phone downstairs to get Shea’s opinion.
Shea was concerned about the risk of upyr and not super helpful in gauging Diego’s voice or emotion. “Alice, of course he likes you, but you’re so off-limits. You gotta realize that’s a big deal for a non-royal.”
“It’s stupid,” I complained.
“I agree, but nothing has changed. Get your crown, change the law, ditch the dud. Then you can explore your feelings for Diego.”
“I don’t have feelings for Diego!” I retorted. I felt my face blush; I was a terrible liar.
“Sure you don’t.” Shea wasn’t taking the bait. I’d already confessed the truth to her long ago. I supposed part of me was hoping to convince myself. Life would be so much easier if Logan and I could love each other. I grumbled something uncharitable, and she laughed at me. “Come on, let’s go to breakfast.”
◆◆◆
Weeks passed without further incident, and the mood around campus gradually calmed down. Midterms came and went and students were excited to head home for the holidays. I had the Winter Ball to look forward to—not—and the council meeting—double not.
Shea was going home with Adam after all, and I’d given her the best pep talk I could muster. I also cornered Adam in the art room and reminded him not to get caught up with his siblings and forget to keep an eye on Shea. He rolled his eyes at me and flashed his megawatt smile, promising me I had nothing to worry about. My parents had sent Shea a present along with mine, so I gave them to Adam to surprise Shea with while they were on holiday break. I’d bought her a carved crystal wolf from Gwendolyn’s shop that summer. I wanted her to have a gift from me to remind her she wasn’t alone, even if she was surrounded by the enemy. Not that Adam’s family was the enemy, but I was concerned about how his mom might treat her. I hugged Shea and Adam goodbye and waved at the Jeep as Jack drove off to take them to the airport.
I made my way to Dryden, carefully guarded by Sir Henry, of course. I had to meet with Nadia before stopping at the dressmaker. Nadia greeted me warmly and we entered her spacious townhouse. Her brother, Nolan, was in the parlor reading, and I waved a friendly hello.
He jumped up when he saw me, peppering me with questions. “Hey, Alice, I mean, Your Royal Highness,” he amended with a hasty half-bow. “I heard you found the dead body on the northeast ridge? I heard it was an upyr? I also heard you can shift into your wolf mid-run. Can you teach me that when I shift? My birthday is in May, so we’ll have time to practice before school ends…”
“All right, Nolan, calm down. Her Majesty and I have business to discuss,” Nadia said with a grin.
I didn’t mind Nolan’s enthusiasm but was relieved to get off the hook. Something Nadia had said reminded me of a previous conversation with Anatoly and the gang earlier that semester.
“I thought only the reigning queen is called Your Majesty?” I asked Nadia with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled at me. “Ah, very good, you’ve been paying attention in your civics class. Yes. That is true, but you may notice in certain circles and in private settings that the title is a simple way for your followers to alert you of their loyalty. They would never use the title within earshot of Queen Regent Christina, but for your ears alone, it’s code that they support your ascension to the throne.”
“Hmm…” I absorbed the information and tried to recall who else had used the title. Anatoly had, as well as Fanya. Having their royal support was definitely valuable. We discussed a few other particulars about the ball and the council meeting. I was expressly forbidden from mentioning our plan to declare all descendants of mine to bear the Luna surname.
“We can’t tip our hand, Princess. We’re saving that particular trump card for the summer session when it’s much closer to your birthday and your coronation.”
The mention of my coronation had me questioning my safety in the palace.
“I’m glad to see you are finally takin
g your safety seriously.” Even when I did something right, I was still somehow getting scolded by Nadia. “Yes, we’ll have increased security. Sir Henry, Boris, Becky, and Diego will be on your detail.”
“Diego?” I hadn’t meant to say his name out loud, but I was surprised. I had a hard time picturing Diego at the palace. What did it say that I never had before?
Nadia was giving me a funny look. “Yes, is there a problem?”
“No,” I squeaked. “No problem. He’s the best there is.”
“That he is, which is why we hired him.” Nadia said the words very matter-of-factly, but I didn’t like how penetrating her gaze was.
I cleared my throat and changed the subject to fashion. Last year, Nadia had tricked me into wearing a red gown at the black and white ball. She’d sworn it was for my political advantage to be noticed as it was the first public appearance of the Lost Princess returned. I understood her reasoning but disliked her tactics, which I’d made clear to her. We’d been on firmer footing ever since. But this year, I was excited to choose my own dress.
I had wanted a black and white gown, but Nadia talked me out of it. She reminded me that if I wanted to fit in this year, choosing one or the other was tradition. We agreed to table my dress idea for the following year which would be my first Winter Ball as Queen. I was still getting used to the idea of fashion as a political tactic, but I enjoyed the process. This year I chose a white fluffy princess gown. It didn’t escape my notice that it resembled a wedding dress, but Nadia insisted that would be a good thing.
“Even if you want to get out of the wedding, it’s like giving them the photo op without the pre-nup.”
I didn’t totally see her vision, but I loved the dress. It was sparkling with tiny crystals woven into the plunging bodice and studded throughout the lace overlay of the voluminous gown. We decided on an up-do to complement my bare shoulders and long white gloves. I was giddy over the gloves. They, more than anything, made me feel like a princess.
“We will have the Luna Diadem messaged over,” Nadia added, answering my unspoken question about other jewelry. “I’m wondering about a necklace or earrings. I think one or the other, and something understated. We want the crown to shine.” The Luna Diadem was my family clan’s platinum tiara with large gemstones and delicate diamond teardrops that dangled from the crown. I had only worn it once to last year’s ball. It lived in a security deposit box somewhere in the werewolf world I had yet to visit.
“Do you have anything appropriate?” Nadia asked.
“I don’t know. Anatoly gave me a lovely necklace for my birthday, but it’s a little much.”
“Absolutely not!” Nadia cried. She rarely raised her voice, so I knew she meant business. “You cannot wear anything in public that was a gift from a competing suitor.”
“Anatoly is not a suitor!” I laughed.
“That’s right, he’s not,” Nadia affirmed, taking me seriously. “We can’t give any more fodder to the rumor mill.”
We agreed I would not wear any jewelry to avoid an international incident. I also had to promise to dance with Logan and circle the room on his arm at least once. I was grumbling on behalf of my gender, but Nadia ignored my pleas to derail socialized misogyny.
“This isn’t about gender, Alice! For all we know, if Logan had been born a girl, the same contract would be in place.”
“But what about heirs?”
“You really undervalue the Dolph family’s desire to rule. They would’ve worked around it.”
I shook my head at Nadia. “You aren’t making your point any better, if you ask me.”
“Hey, I’m on your side. I agree it’s an outdated system. That’s why I’m actively working to help you overturn the law or at least get out of the contract. But we have to work within the system to change the system.”
“I guess,” I begrudgingly agreed.
Chapter 16
The next morning dawned bright and clear. A new layer of snow coated the trees and grounds, obscuring tracks from the night before. The dining hall was practically empty. Most of the students went home for winter break. Some kids were left behind, since Mt. Henley had more than a few orphans. But even many of the displaced kids discovered which clan they belonged to through genetic testing. Various families within a clan would pseudo-adopt orphaned whelps, and they got passed around for the holidays. These orphans acquire a sense of belonging to a family clan and found their place in the pack.
Winterstones like Jack and Shea never got this opportunity since their DNA couldn’t be traced back to any specific clan. They were given the surname Winterstone with the intention to give them a clan within the pack. But clans could be territorial. Winterstones inevitably had the lowest social status in the Great Pack. Shea usually remained at Mt. Henley for the holidays. This year, Adam’s mom had agreed to let her come to the Abernathe’s home for the holidays, and it was her first time staying with a werewolf family. I hoped everything went well. I knew Shea was worried about it.
I finished my breakfast and lugged my suitcase to the front entrance. Jack was waiting with his Jeep at the bottom of the stairs. I hauled my luggage down along the balustrade and greeted Jack with a smile. His beard was longer than ever, a golden-brown nest that had more and more silver peeking through. His green eyes weren’t quite as bright, as if clouds covered their radiance. He smiled warmly at me, but it never quite reached his eyes and fell rather quickly.
“Be extra careful, Your Majesty,” Jack cautioned me, throwing in the title for added emphasis. “Do not evade your security detail. They’re there for your protection.”
I glanced in the truck, expecting to see Sir Henry, Becky, and Diego, Mt. Henley’s top Slivers. The Jeep was empty, much to my disappointment. “Where is everybody?” I asked, aiming for casual, but possibly missing the mark.
“We’re going to pick up Nadia and Becky in Dryden and take you to Kamloops airport. The rest of your detail left last night to prepare the palace for you arrival. We’re leaving nothing to chance. I want my own people to sweep the grounds and your quarters before your plane touches down.”
I nodded, no longer in a joking spirit. Jack was taking my safety very seriously. With everything else going on, I’d nearly forgotten my biggest threat wore the crown. And I was walking right into her lair.
Just then, the door of the manor opened, and Ms. Grizzle came outside with an oversized carpet bag. I realized Ms. Grizzle was stronger than she looked as she easily hefted the large bag down the stairs. With her new pointy spectacles and severe grey bun, Ms. Grizzle gave off a scary-grandma vibe. She handed her bag to Jack and nodded sternly to me. I’d forgotten that as an under-aged wolf, I technically needed a chaperone. I bit back a snarky remark but couldn’t control my eye-roll. I was trying to appear strong, yet I had Ms. Grizzle trailing behind me. I sighed. I knew she was more excited to visit the palace than I was, and would likely make herself scarce during the trip anyway.
We climbed into the Jeep and headed to Dryden to pick up Nadia and Becky. Becky was a Sliver who ran patrols at Mt. Henley. I’d met her last year during my few months on patrols. She was tall and busty with golden curls that fell just past her ears. She had a great sense of humor and an easy laugh. Becky was upbeat and pleasant as a person. As a wolf, she was one badass Sliver. She was a good scout and had a sixth sense when it came to a dangerous trail. Last winter she’d led her patrol group through a treacherous pass on the eastern slope in danger of collapse. A rockslide had made the familiar route a minefield. One false step and they might’ve all been lost. But she managed to lead her team out of danger. I wasn’t surprised Jack had chosen her for my security detail.
Jack delivered us to the tarmac and turned to head home. Taking Mt. Henley’s private jet, we had a smooth flight to the Winter Palace grounds. I looked out of the window as we made our descent and couldn’t help but gasp at the beauty of the place. I’d seen the palace not long ago, but on a winter day, covered in snow, the building looked right o
ut of a fairytale. The tall Bavarian-inspired peaks and several crowned towers reminded me of Disney World. I knew it was ridiculously American of me, but that was my version of a princess’s castle, and the Winter Palace didn’t disappoint. It was a huge complex made of stone and marble. The expansive grounds contained well-manicured lawns, gardens, and an ornate hedge maze encircled by stone walls interspersed with heavy wrought-iron gates. Beyond the massive estate lay sprawling forests of the Canadian wild. It was the most beautiful secret of the werewolf world.
We made a smooth landing and disembarked. Becky insisted on escorting me to my rooms. When we arrived, Diego was standing guard. His eyes flicked to mine, but he addressed Becky with a formal nod. Becky opened my door and did a sweep of the room before letting me inside. I shifted awkwardly on my feet. Diego stood still as a statue.
“Hey,” I tried.
“Princess.” He nodded once towards me then looked straight ahead.
“Okay, all business,” I grumbled. His mask fell a moment … I knew he was about to reply, but Becky returned to inform me the rooms were clear. She cautioned me to not go anywhere without one or more of my security detail, then she ushered me into my suite and closed the door behind me.
I sighed and glanced around at the opulent suite. I walked over to the tall curved windows and drew back the long, blue velvet curtains. The dying light streamed into my room, momentarily blinding me. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I focused on the gardens then the woods beyond. I’d first seen Sloane in those woods. I knew there was an upyr nest not too far from the palace grounds—close enough that an upyr could make the journey in a couple of days, given their preternatural speed.
There was a knock at my door, and I turned back to the world of politics and subterfuge. My luggage had arrived. Becky promised me a tray delivered to my room for dinner since it was too late to attend the formal dinner at the palace. I was relieved to have a night alone before the Winter Ball and subsequent event. I had to get through another dance with Logan before the council meeting. The meeting felt like it was its own kind of dance.